The new Barclays Center Arena marks the return of major league sports to Brooklyn, which has had a hole in its heart since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1957. It was all smiles at the press launch but long and arduous process behind the project was by no means a pleasant one. Local residents fought long and hard (many still protesting at the preview) about the use of eminent domain as well as multiple lawsuits and financial issues plagued the Barclays Center and larger Atlantic Yards program for years but now the 675,000 square-foot arena is nearly complete with just a few remaining pieces such as Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club, which will (goodness willing) be ready for his first concert on the 28th.

“The opening of Barclays Center is the culmination of my dream for Brooklyn to bring a national professional sports team back to the
borough for the first time since our beloved Dodgers left for ‘La La Land’ more than 50 years ago,” said the always eloquent Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Barclays Center will welcome visitors from throughout New York City and the world, with its unique industrial design capturing the grittiness of Brooklyn and paying homage to the hard-working Brooklynites who made the borough what it is today. As home of the Nets, Brooklyn once again stands proud as a national sports city, and with the first tip-off at center court on November 1, the ghosts of Ebbets Field will disappear forever.”

SHoP Architects and AECOM designed the Barclays Center to LEED-Silver standards, but one of its most sustainable aspects lies outside of the building itself. The message of public transportation was resounding at the opening, and subway access to the arena has been at the heart of the project since the beginning. Nine subway lines, 11 bus lines and the Long Island Rail Road will stop at the Barclays Center and train travelers will be able to completely bypass all of the extremely congested traffic on street level. A trip from Wall Street on the 2, 3, 4 or 5 will take about 10 minutes and those coming from Penn Station on the 2, 3, or C or Grand Central on the 4 or 5 will need about 22 minutes. If you’re commuting from Coney Island on the D, N, Q, the ride is about half and hour and Queens people can get to the center in 20 minutes on the LIRR from Jamaica.

“Mass transit is the centerpiece of the entire development,” explained FCRC’s executive vice president of development MaryAnne Gilmartin. “We committed to infrastructure improvements as part of the real estate deal. The new entrance is the key component to making this arena work. Under no circumstances do we want anyone driving to the arena, ever.”

The Barclays Center will also add to the economic sustainability and viability of Prospect Heights by hiring approximately 2,000 people (many from the surrounding neighborhood) to work in the arena. Staff members are being trained by Disney Institute, the business advisory arm of The Walt Disney Company, and we would like to give a special shoutout to the amazing and hardworking folks who worked on Friday. The service was warm, impressive and above-and-beyond, something that is difficult to find in New York City.